Sort of feel like there could be conflict of interest, and too much power in the league front office if they're striking down trades that teams are agreeing to. I don't like the idea of the league owning a team.

Sort of feel like there could be conflict of interest, and too much power in the league front office if they're striking down trades that teams are agreeing to. I don't like the idea of the league owning a team.

I don't see what the problem is with the trade itself. The Lakers were going to give up Pau Gasol and Odom. That's totally fine in terms of talent for talent.

Sort of feel like there could be conflict of interest, and too much power in the league front office if they're striking down trades that teams are agreeing to. I don't like the idea of the league owning a team.

I don't see what the problem is with the trade itself. The Lakers were going to give up Pau Gasol and Odom. That's totally fine in terms of talent for talent.

I agree, plus the Hornets were actually making out pretty well on the deal. From the sound of things, a few of the small-market owners complained (i.e. Dan Gilbert of the Cleveland Cavaliers) and demanded that the trade be vetoed. Seeing that every owner technically has a 1/29th ownership stake in the Hornets, they felt like they had a say .... even though they all decided back when the league took over the team that the Hornets' GM would have all the say in making trade and operating decisions for the team. Apparently not.

Here's Gilbert's letter to David Stern:

Commissioner,

It would be a travesty to allow the Lakers to acquire Chris Paul in the apparent trade being discussed.

This trade should go to a vote of the 29 owners of the Hornets.

Over the next three seasons this deal would save the Lakers approximately $20 million in salaries and approximately $21 million in luxury taxes. That $21 million goes to non-taxpaying teams and to fund revenue sharing.

I cannot remember ever seeing a trade where a team got by far the best player in the trade and saved over $40 million in the process. And it doesn't appear that they would give up any draft picks, which might allow to later make a trade for Dwight Howard. (They would also get a large trade exception that would help them improve their team and/or eventually trade for Howard.) When the Lakers got Pau Gasol (at the time considered an extremely lopsided trade) they took on tens of millions in additional salary and luxury tax and they gave up a number of prospects (one in Marc Gasol who may become a max-salary player).

I just don't see how we can allow this trade to happen.

I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do.

When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?

Remember that Gasol was going to the Rockets in the initial trade. The league was concerned with the players/draft picks that the Hornets would be receiving. I didn't share their concern considering the players New Orleans were set to get, but they are making out pretty well on this trade. Kaman is a solid big man when he's healthy, and Eric Gordon is an absolute stud.As far as watching the NBA, this makes me want to watch it even more. CP3 and Griffin are two of my favorite players. Having them on the same team is going to be awesome.